150 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



made a road from his feeding-ground down to the greai 

 swamp. 



I walked out of the feeding-ground, in order not to 

 scare him, and had gone but a short distance, when I ob- 

 served something far down towards the laurel, which, as 

 the last glimmer of the setting sun shone upon it, looked 

 white. I soon saw that it was an enormous bear ; and as 

 he came into view, I was greatly astonished at his size. I 

 found he was going to the feeding-ground I had just left, 

 and I waited for him to come to me. As I stood looking 

 at him, I prayed God to let me get him ; saying to myself, 

 " If I don't kill another this fall, I will not murmur ; for 

 if I get that fellow, the meat will keep my family till next 

 spring." 



Presently he turned his course ; which made it neces- 

 sary for me to move as he did, in order to gain on him. He 

 heard me, and stopped to listen ; but as there were many 

 squirrels running through the leaves, he gave it up, and 

 went on. When he walked, I walked too, so that his 

 steps would drown the noise of mine ; and on I went, till 

 he heard me again ; when I was still too far off to shoot. 

 Then he sat himself down like a dog, looking right at the 

 spot where I was ; and there I had to remain, as still as a 

 stump, till my legs and knees got so weak that I could not 

 stand without trembling. 



After looking some time at the squirrels, he started off 

 again for his feeding-ground ; when I moved also, and was 

 drawing near enough to shoot, as he heard me a second 

 time. He turned to run. I saw a small log lying before 

 him, and expected he would stop and look before he started 

 off in earnest. Sure enough, he shuffled along to the log, 

 put his two fore-feet on it, and turned to look at me. 



Then, if ever, I did my duty in shooting; for I thought 

 it was no use to supplicate the Good Being to let me have 

 the bear, and then take no pains to sight straight at him. 



